Frelinghuysen ’69, L.H.D.’01 Runs for Reelection

U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen ’69, L.H.D.’01 (R-N.J.) was recently featured in the Daily Record, N.J., for announcing that he will run for reelection. Frelinghuysen is serving his 10th term as the Representative for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. He is chair of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and serves on the key appropriations subcommittees of Defense, Energy and Water Development, and Homeland Security. His congressional outreach initiatives include his Youth Advisory Committee and the Picatinny Working Group.

“Of course, our single-minded focus in Congress must be private sector jobs and opportunities,” Frelinghuysen said. “But no matter the issue, I will continue to listen and actively seek the voters’ opinions and advice so I can carry their concerns to Washington and fight for lower taxes.”

Last year, he was honored with the U.S. Navy’s highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Award. He has served on the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors since 2008. Frelinghuysen is active in numerous volunteer and charitable organizations. He is a member of the American Legion Post 59 and a life member of the VFW Post 3401.

At Hobart, Frelinghuysen majored in American history, was named a Druid and was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. After graduating, he served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army as a member of the 93rd Engineering Battalion (Construction) stationed in the Mekong Delta.

He has remained active at Hobart and William Smith Colleges since his graduation, including hosting students in the Washington, D.C. program, “A Day on the Hill.” He has provided outstanding leadership in fund raising efforts as a past chair of the alum phonathon, past chair of the Hobart Alumni Fund, class agent, a leader of the reunion gift committee, and a member of the Capital Campaign steering committee. In recognition to his commitment to HWS, he has twice been honored with the Alumni Citation Award, and received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the Colleges in 2001.

Rodney Frelinghuysen announced Monday that he is running for reelection to represent the 11th Distrct in the House of Representatives.

“Last Friday, I filed nominating petitions with the New Jersey Secretary of State, officially seeking the Republican nomination in the 11th Congressional District,” Frelinghuysen said in a statement. “Today, I am formally beginning my campaign for reelection, asking our citizens to affirm their trust in me once again. “

Frelinghuysen was first elected to Congress in 1995 and he currently sits on the House Approprations Committee and serves as chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Committee. He is also a senior member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Water and he also serves on the Subcommittee on Homeland Security.

“Of course, our single-minded focus in Congress must be private sector jobs and opportunities,” Frelinghuysen said. “But no matter the issue, I will continue to listen and actively seek the voters’ opinions and advice so I can carry their concerns to Washington and fight for lower taxes.”

The 11th District covers most of Morris County and stretches into parts of Sussex, Passaic and Somerset. Frelinghuysen is being challenged in the June 3 Republican primary by Rick Van Glahn, a self-employed home improvement contractor. The Morris County Democratic Committee has endorsed Mark Dunec for the office.

After graduating from Hobart College in 1969, Frelinghuysen served in the Army as a member of the 93rd Engineering Battalion deployed to the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. From 1974 to 1983, Frelinghuysen served as a member of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders, before he went on to serve in the New Jersey General Assembly in 1983. He served as chairman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee from 1988-89 and again from 1992 to 1994.

Frelinghuysen is a member of the American Legion Post 59 and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3401.He lives in Harding with his wife, Virginia, and has two daughters.